The world is moving towards gender mainstreaming in a bid to enhance development. A gender mainstreaming policy is therefore a powerful tool that gives men and women a platform to fully realise their potential in the process of development. AAPAM joins likeminded institutions that have embraced gender perspectives in its programmes, activities and projects. I therefore urge all our partners, members (African Governments, Corporate and individuals) and National Chapters to draw from this policy when planning their activities, programmes and projects. In preliminary gender mainstreaming workshops and seminars, we realized that mainstreaming demands for a holistic strategy coupled with a positive spirit, a committed attitude and a participatory approach.I therefore, welcome your participation as we work together to enhance gender equity and equality by implementing this policy. This journey has been made fruitful by the effort of a number of our committed partners and individuals. Special thanks to the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFTAD)- Canada who have funded and fully supported the production of this policy. I am further immensely grateful to Kisanet Tezare- Senior Gender Analyst PAC/Kartini and Dana Peebles, Director - Kartini International/IPAC Gender Advisor for their enormous expertise that has helped carve this policy. I also compliment the AAPAM Executive Committee, Council and Staff for making the production of this policy successful. I hope that this gender policy opens a new chapter for sourcing, planning, funding, implementing, monitoring and evaluating AAPAM programs and projects.

G. K. ScottAAPAM Secretary General

Preamble

In line with AAPAM’s mission to promote and spearhead Best Practice, Excellence and Professionalism in Public Administration and Management in Africa, this gender policy aims to promote gender equality and ensure its achievement in AAPAM programmes, projects, systems and activities.AAPAM is committed to achieve gender equality together with its partners, including African governments, management development institutes, universities and training institutions, other institutions and corporate bodies and individual members of the Association. Inspired by the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing (1995), AAPAM’s gender equality policy is guided by the African Union Gender Policy (2009), the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (2003); the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (2004); the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Declaration on Gender and Development (1997) as well as the Millennium Development Goals, particularly MDG3 on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.AAPAM stands against all forms of discrimination based on gender as these constitute violations of human rights and pose barriers to the achievement of development objectives.